Fruit-washing machine



July 6 1926.

E. T. LAKE I FRUIT WASHING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1924 I INVENTOR.

E. T. LAKE FRUIT WASHING MACHINE July 6 Filed April 3, 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 6 1926. 1,591,426

' E. T. LAKE FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1924 11 Sheets-Shee't 3 I 6:, C(ZVVENTR WV lm 3 at mww l UP HHHHHH H HI I PH M IJIHUW l TH I NH H Wl l l l b l l l flu mm U ATTORNEY.

July 6,1926; Y 1,591,426

' E. T. LAKE V FRUiT WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1924 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 n .e. ,ggr'ok.

July 6,1926. 1,591,426

E. T. LAKE 1 FRU IT WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1924 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ju y 6 1926.-

-FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1924 l lm 4 H ll Sheets-Sheet 5 I I ENTOR. Fig.5. BY

I 1,591,426 E. T. LAKE v July 6 1926.

- E.T. LAKE FRUIT WASHING MACHINE I Filed April 2, 1924 1.]. Sheets-Sheet 8 O I l IO 5 9 l0 [1 W 7 T 34- I |3| I,

ATTORNEY July 6,1926.- 1,591,426

. E.T.,LAKE

FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1924 11 shets-sht 9 I 1NVENTO BYK ATTORNEY I July 6 1926. 1,591,426

E. T. LAKE FRUIT WASHING MACHINE,

Filed April 2, 1924 11 Sheets-Sheet 1o I \r IVENTOR 617% Ill" na 4- July 6 1926. 1,591,426

- V E. T. LAKE I FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1924 11 sheets-sheet 11 IN NTOR d aizi/m 2 o a M ATTORN .means cooperate directly i with the'bottle holding means, and these will be described i together. In the bottle holding means above referred to, there is above each tray on top atop member (Figsgl, 9, 10, 12' and 13) which is movable to and fro vertically whereforthe next washing. 1

by it may be moved down upon the open tops of the fruit-containing bottles, or other receptacles, and clamp them firmly in positaining the washed fruit may be readily re.

moved and new trays of bottlesbe inserted V aAs embodied, these tops, 5 comprise or con stitute open pans with vertical side edges 7 adapted to hold liquid. The bottoms 60f these pans 5 are provided with apertures 25,

, which aline with the open tops 'of the bottles in the trays, and through these openings 8' and grooves in the bosses 9 the liquids pass into and out of the bottle. Abouteach of the openings 8, and extending downwardly from' the bottom side of the member 5 are a series of bosses 9 adapted to fit over, press upon, and hold the respective bottles firmly in place in their trays and upon the base 1. Preferably, spiral springs 10, or other suitable means, areprovided, which extend into the necks of the bottlesand hold the fruit inplace, so that it will not be disturbed by the tipping of the bottles.

.ln the embodied form of means for mov ing the tops 5 up and down for'the purposes described (see Figs. 1, 3,4, 9, 10, 12 and 13), each top 5 has at each side thereof lugs 20, respectively, internally apertured to slide upon corresponding vertically-disposed rods 21, which rods are fixed to, and extend upwardly from, the base 1. Each of the tops 5, at either side thereof, has also a pivotal connection 24 by an elongated opening with an arm 25 extending backwardly to the rear of the machine. These arms 25, in pairs, correvsponding to the two tops 5, arerotatably carried on a rod or shaft 26, which is mounted in brackets 27, 28 and 29, these brackets being fixed upon and extending upwardly from the base 1. v

The tops 5 are moved a short distance up and down by the slight swingingof the arms 25, a'nd'the embodied form of means for effecting this motion (Figs. '1, 4, 9, 12 and 18) comprises an apertured plate 30, fixed to the forward end of the outside arm of each A member 31 fits loosely pair of arms 25. and movably within the aperture in the plate 30 and is screw-threaded on a rod 32, being held inplace by nuts 39 and 40. Rod 32 ;is fixed to the strap of an eccentric 33, which eccentric is fixed on a shaft 34. The shaft 34 is journaled in brackets 35' and 36, carried on the base 1.. It will be understood that there is a similar mechanism ateitherside in actuating device fixed to the shaft 34,

at either side, as stated, comprises a handie 37, which may bethrown from the full line to the dotted linejposition in Fig.12. 1n

the fullline position' it-raises' the top 5 for the insertion and Withdrawal of trays of.

the water therefrom. In connection with the embodied form thereof, these means'are constructed to give'dwells in the movement, thereby giving time ,to permit an inflow of washing water into the fruit receptacle, and thenjto effect the emptying. V r

' In the embodied form of water supplying means (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and '13) a plurality of pipes 40 are arranged above the pans or tops 5, thepipes being apertured to let the water pour downinto the p ans, and therefrom through theapertures 8 into the bottles of fruit in the holder. The pipes 40 communicate through a system of piping 41 with a valve 42, (Fig. 2) and preferably a tank or air chamber 43 is provided to compensate for variations in the pressure of the water supply.

In the embodied form of. water control Fixed to the shaft 46 is a lever; arm 50, to.

which is pivoted a looped link 51. Pedal lever 45 has a restoring spring 44 (Fig.1). At the top thereof, link 51 has a cross rod 52, which works in slots in a cylindrical tank 53 supported on the machine frame. Pivotally connected on rod 52 (Fig. 7) is a piston rod 54't0 which is attached a piston 55 working in a cylinder 56, opening downwardly from the. bottom of the open chamber 53. Opening from the side of the chamber 56 is a pipe 57, controlled by. a valve 58. The pipe 57 opens into a pipe 59 which 57 opens also into a pipe 60, which communicates vwith the bottom of the cylinder 56, under the control of a check valve 61.

The connections from the foregoing mech anism to the valve 42' (Figs. 1, .2 and 7) comprise a pin 70, fixed in one of the arms of the loop link 51, a detent hook 71 on a bent lever 72 cooperating with'the pin 70.

Lever 72' ispivoted at73 upon one arm of the lever 74. Lever 7 4 in turn is pivoted on a bracket 7 6, supported from the cylinder already described. The bent end of lever 72 is connected bya tension spring 80 with a connecting link 81, pivotally connected at 82 to the lever 74. Link 81 is pivotally con-. nected at its other end 84 with, a; lever 85,

' number of predetermined washingsmay be changed by using disks 141' with diiterent. numbers of slots therein.

disk 141 having a plurality of slots 143 formed therein. These disks are, however, removable and interchangeable, so that the portion fitting in a square hole in disc 141.

Fixed on shaft 34 is afinger 144 which is in line with the slots 143 in disk 141, and must I? toraise and lower the toP 5 311421115 my pass through one of the slots whenever levers 37 and therewith their shafts 34 are rocked clamp and clamp the bottles. V p I In the operation of the mechanism, after the bottles are filled with wash water and the holder is'then tipped to empty the wash water, pawl 133, of each of these mechanisms at either side of'the machine, strikes its pin 135, and gives a partial rotation to shaft 130. Thereby the slot 143 in disk 141' is rotated out of alinement with the linger 144 (Figs. 9 and'll). Due to' this, lever arm 37 cannot be rocked from the dotted line or clamping position of Fig. 12 to the full line or releasing position of that figure. N or can this releasing action be 'eiiected until the next slot 143 in disk 141 is in alinement with the finger 144. The parts have been proportioned so that the alinement'of this second slot 143 with the finger 144 will occur only after thebottle holder has been tipped the predetermined number of times, and the bottle holder can be tipped each time only after the bottles have been 'filled with the washing water.

Means are provided for surrounding the fruit in-the bottles with a preserving liquid, such as brine, atthe close of the washingoperation. As embodied (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8 and '13), brine supplying pipes 150 are provided,

and may be equipped if desired with an equalizing tank 151. These pipes extend upwardly to a system of distributing pipes 152 arranged above the tops or pans 5. They V 7 may be provided also'with controlling valves 153. and 154 which may be manually operable and spring-closed by springs 155. At the 7 close of the washing operation the attendant will actuate these valves manually and fill the bottles with the brine or other preserving fluid. Adjustable discharge nipples 156 may be provided, which may be screwed into and out of the pipe 152 to regulate the flow of the preserving fluid."

The manneroif operation of the foregoing mechaninsm will be understood from the statements or operation appended to the description of each group of mechanism. It

' may be stated by way of resume:

The trays of bottles of fruit may be placed upon the table 157, and pushed upon the base 1 of the bottle holder, the tops 5 being in elevated position. -Levers 37. are

then rockedfrom the full lineto the dotted line position in Fig..12,'and the bosses 9 are thus brought down firmly onthe tops oit' thebottles, thereby holding them by compression in. place in the trays and in the holder.

The springs '10 hold the fruit down in the bottles. During this action, the finger 144 through a slot 143 in the disk 141 The apertures 8 are now over the tops of the ceptacled therein. Due to the hook 71 slipping from pin '70, the wash water is cut off at the proper point, and'the remainder of the movement-of the toot lever 45. tips the bottle holders and the water is emptied-out Dur-' ing the return movement of the lever 45, the bottle holder is'swungback to horizon from the' bottle's as shown in Fig. 1.

ta l position as already described.

w nile the invention is at present devised especially for washing fruit, and-for convenience is so claimed, 1t Wlll be understood that it is adapted for use in washing and otherwise treating other kinds of 'esculents.

The invention in its broader-aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described, nor solely tothe treatment of fruit as above stated, but departures may be. made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing trom 'the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. l Vhat I. claim is 2 Y 1. A fruit treating machine including in tacled' fruit, means automatically retaining the fruit in the r'e ceptacle=,"means for washing the fruit, and means for overturning the receptacle to empty the washing water.

4. A fruit treating inachineincluding in combination means for presen'ting'in up right position a receptacle containing fruit,

' antennae I emeans 'a ivvashing liquid to 1:1 Washzethe" :i-fruit; in then :upright: :receptacle, A

means for inverting the receptacle to empty the fruit in thefreceptacle,

5. A fruit treating machine including in combination-means\;for resenting in; up--- f right position a receptacle containingiruit,

means for supplying a Washing liquid to Wash the fruit in the upright receptacle,

Vmeans for inverting the receptacle to empty the Washing fluid, means for retaining the i'fruit int-he, receptacle, and means for compelling repeated washings of the fruitand 'emptyings of the .Washingliquid.

6'. A fruit treating machine including in combination means for receiving .and holding aremovable andreplaceable tray carry [ing a plurality'offruit-containing receptacles, means for simultaneously Washing thev fruit in all'the receptacles, means for emptying the Washing fluid, andmeans torretainingthe fruit in position.

7. A fruitftreatingfmachine including in combination means for receiving and holding aremovable and replaceable tray carry- I ing a plurality of fi'uit containing receptacles, means for simultaneously Washing the fruit in all the receptacles, means for emptying the Washing fluld, means for retaining the fruit in position, and means for compelling a plurality of Washingsfof the recep-I tacled (fruit, before the tray and fruit receptacles can .be removed;

v8. A fruit treating machinemcluding 1n I combination means for receiving and holdmg a removable and replaceable traycarrying a plurality of fruit containing recepta cles in substantially upright posit-ion, means for simultaneously washing the fruit in all the receptacles, means for inverting the tray to empty the Washing fluid, and means for retaining the fruit in'position. V 9. A fruit treating machine including in combination means for receiving and holding a removable andreplaceable tray carrying a plurality of fruit containing receptacles, means for-simultaneously Washingthe fruit in all the receptacles,'mea ns for invert:

ing and emptying the washingfluid, means forretaining the fruit in position, and means -forcompellin'g a plurality of washings of the receptacled fruit and successive emptying of the washing liquid, before the trayand fruit receptacles can be removed.

10. A fruit treatin machine including in combination means for receiving and j -holding a removable and replaceable-tray carrying a plurality ofjtru'it containingre ceptacles in substantially upright position, means for p fruit in all the receptacles, means for inverting thetray to empty the Washing fluid,

means for retaining therifruit. in position, and means for compelling'aplurality simultaneously Washing theire lovedto empty the Washing" liquid.

of washings: Ofi-"t-he rreceptacledz-iruitaeand Y succcssiveemptyings otethezmashiiig liq-mid, A beforenthebtra y ;anditruit;reccptacleszran-be -;stheawashingwfiuid iandvnieansfor retaining: 1 1

" 11a In 1 at :fruitewashingz machine; ,the'icoms bination o'fzmean-srfoi'zpresenting a ibbttle. in guprig'ht'eposition::for gvvas'h'ing;iineansir'for 7 Washing the interior of abottleinsubstam; j'tially uprghtposition and means'for si1nultaneously lowering and inverting the: bottle" I 12. In a truitiwashing machine,-the com- '1 binationof means for presenting a bottle in upright position for Washing, means forwashing' the lnterior of a bottle in substantially upright position, means for-simultane-f ously lowering and inverting the bottle to empty the Washing liquid, and means for compelling a plurality of washings and emptyings ofthe Washing liquid beforethe,

bottle can be removed from said'presenti-ng 1 13; In a fruit Washing machine, the combination of means for receiving and holding a tray containing a"plurality of bottles,

*means for Washing the bottles on the tray,

means for compelling a plurality of, Washings of the bottles before they vcan bares. I

moved vfrom said receiving and holding means andmeans for supplying clean Washing fluid for thesuccesslve washings. j '14. In a fruit Washing machine, the combination of means for presenting a bottle in q upright position for Washing, means for" Washing the interior of abottle in substane 15. In a fruit washing machine,the combination of'means for presenting a bottle 1n uprlght position tor Washing, means for Washing the interior ofa bottle in substantially upright position, "means for inverting the bottle to empty the washing liquid,

no I

means for compelling a plurality of wash-n ingsand emptyings of the washing liquid before the bottlec'anbe removed from said presenting means, means for supplying preserving fluid and means for filling the 1 Washed bottles With the preserving fluid;

16.. A fruit treating machine including in combination means for presenting in up right position a receptacle containing fruit, means for supplying a Washing liquid to wash the fruit in the upright receptacle, means for inverting the'receptacle' to empty the Washing fluid, means for retaining the, fruit in thereceptacle,1means for supplying preserving 'fluid and-means fo-rfilling the ashed bottles with the preserving fluid.

171A "fruit treating machine including, in combination means for presentmg in upright posltion a receptacle containlng fru1t,1

means for supplying a Washing liquid to 7 1 Wash the fruit in the upright receptacle,

means for inverting the receptacle to empty the Washing fluid, means for retaining the fruit in the receptacle, means fOICOlIlPQlliIlg repeated washings ofthe fruit and emptyin'gs of the Washing liquid, means for supplying preserving fluid and means for fiil- 7 ing the'washed bottles With the preserving fluid.

- In testimony whereof, I have name to this specification.

EUGENE T. LAKE.

' Signed my 

